birch



J. S. B'IRGH.' Holding Tool.

l. I l .111.141 .1 a "m WITNBSSES Patentedlune 15, |880.

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INVENTOR: j wf/ l' A BY Y ATTORNEY.

N. FETES, FHOTo-LITHOGRAPMER WASH Nu D C UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

JOHN s. BIRCH, 0E ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,860, dated June 15, 1880.

Application led December 29, 1879.

a sectional elevation of the improvement..

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the outer ease, shown as containing the vimprovement.

The invention consists in constructing the holding-tool with the case in the shape of a tube attened upon two or four sides to give a side support to the jaws; also, in forming grooves in the sides of the jaws and in the inner surface of the sides of the end of the case to prevent the jaws from slipping when under strain; and, also, in the combination, with the case, of a bent lever, so that more power can be applied to the wrench, as will be hereinafter fully described.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a case which is open at one or both ends, and is made in the form of a tube attened upon two or four sides. In the forward end of the case A are placed two jaws, B, in the inner side ofthe outer parts of which are formed longitudinal angular grooves, to cause them to take a firmer hold upon the object to be held. The outer ends of the jaws B are slightly inclined toward each other when drawn into the case, but will gradually become parallel as they are projected more and more. The outer sides of the jaws B are so formed as to fit into the narrow side parts of the end of the cavity of the case A. The middle and inner parts of the jaws B are slightly curved inward and outward, as shown in Fig. 4, so that their inner sides, B, may rock longitudinally upon each other as the said jaws are projected from and drawn into the case A. This construction, by changing the point of contact as the jaws are projected farther and farther, gives the effect of short jaws when the jaws are but slightly projected and of longer jaws as they are projected farther and farther, so that the jaws at the point of contact will always be at asharp angle with each other. The outer sides ofthe inner ends of the jaws B are notched to receive the ends of the U-spring C, which ends are bent inward to enter the said notches.

With this construction the spring C presses the inner ends of the jaws B toward each other, so that their outer ends will spread as the jaws are projected from the case A. The inner end or bend of the spring C enters the end ot' the tubeD, where it is secured to the said tube D by a pin, E, passing through the said tube D and through the bend of the said spring C, or by other suitable means.

. The tube D is made of the same shape as the case A, of such a size as to Iit into and slide back and forth in the said case A, and has its outer end closed to prevent dust from entering the case A. The tube D is pressed outward, drawing the jaws B inward,- by a spiral spring, F, the outer end of which rests against the closed end of the tube D, and its inner end rests against a shoulder, flange, or other stop, G, formed uponor attached to the case A.

WVith this construction the jaws B are pressed outward or projected by pressing the tube D inward, and the said jaws are drawn inward when the pressure upon the tube D is removed by the elasticity' of the spring F. This action of the spring F causes the jaws B to grasp and hold the object to which they are applied and renders a constant effort to keep the implement applied to the object unnecessary.

The lower end of the caseA may bestrengthened by a pin, H, passed through the end part of the case A, between the jaws B, as shown in Figs. l, 3, 4, and 5.

With this construction, when power is applied to the wrench to turn the object grasped by the jaws B the sides of the jaws B will bear against the sides of the end of the case A, and will thus be much more firmly supported than when the case is made cylindrical and the strain has to be wholly supported by the pin H. This construction of the case A also enables the case A to be made much lighter than would otherwise be practicable.

I is an outer case, closed at one end, and

IOO

made of the saine shape as the case A, and of such a size that it may be slipped over the case A, as. shown in Fig. 5, to prevent dust from entering` the implement when being carried'. In the case I, near its closed end, is

lformed an oblong hole, J, of such a shape and size as to receive the case A, so that the case l may be used as a lever for turning the Wrench.

K is a lever, which is provided with a handle, L, at one end. The other end oi" the lever K is 'bent over at right angles, so that the said bent endilnay be 'passed through the square hole M in one side of the case A and through the round hole N in the other side of the said case. rlhe ben-t part of the lever-K is made longer than the distance through the ease A, and its forward partis made round, and its in ner part is made square, so as to lit into the square hole M, to prevent the lever from turning while being used.

With this construction the lever K may be withdrawn ya little to raise its square part out of the square hole M, so that it may be turned around parallel with the case A, for convenience in carrying it. a nut or washer attached to its end to permanently connect it With the case A. Upon the sides of the jaws B are formed grooves O, to engage With corresponding` groovesP in the inner surface of the side parts of the end oi' The lever K may have,

the case A, as shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4. The grooves 0 P prevent the jaws B from slipping when the wrench is under strain, as they would be liable to do it the points in contact Were smooth. The grooves O P may be made transversely or longitudinally with the jaws B aud case A, as may be desired, the transverse grooves preventing thev jaws B from slipping longitudinally and the longitudinal grooves preventing the jaws B from slipping laterally. Having thus fully described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent;

l. In a holding-tool,the oblong case A, combined with correspondingly-shaped jaws B, to support the strain on said jaws, as described.

2. vThe side-grooved jaws B, combined with a case correspondingly grooved in the inner surface, to prevent said jaws from slipping, as set forth.

3. The combination, with a case having a square hole on one side and a round one on the other, of the lever K, having a bend to give inore power, anda square as Well as a roundportion, 4the said lever being adapted to be partially withdrawn, as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN S. BIRCH.

Vitnesses J AMES T. GRAHAM, C. SEDGWICK.

Ass 

